MDL Disneyland® Paris Major: into the lower bracket
NAVI stopped 1 step away
NAVI.GG.BET played against 
Team Empire at the MDL Disneyland® Paris Major qualifiers. The Bo3 was very intense, but in the end, Team Empire took it 2-1, as NAVI drop into the lower bracket of the qualifiers.
Game 1 - Natus Vincere [0:1] Team Empire
NAVI.GG.BET
Crystallize
MagicaL
Blizzy
Chuvash
SoNNeikO
Team Empire
dream'
Kodos
Maden
sayuw
KingR
The first game started off rather calm, without much action happening. There were some occasional ganks, but no crazy action unraveled just yet. By 10 minutes the teams were pretty much dead even. However, a fight in the bottom lane had us lose 3 heroes, and Empire claimed the top tower. Soon after, NAVI lost T1 in the midlane after a fight — Mass Serpent Wards took it down. In 3-4 minutes, there were no outer towers left on the Dire side.
While this was happening, Spectre and Medusa were farming up in the jungles. The rest of the team was creating space, going in the bottom lane and taking down T1 and T2. A rather bad fight in our jungle had us lose all heroes — Empire had the high ground, and were able to get their initiation off very well. Right after, the opponent went for Roshan, but Chu snatched the Aegis, significantly slowing down the tempo of Empire . In a little while, we pulled off a good smoke gank, getting rid of all Radiant outer towers on the map.
Another fight near the Roshpit ended the way of Empire again — this time they claimed the Aegis. Empire didn't start the push right away, instead getting some more items before approaching our high ground. Our T3 fell, but we used the buybacks to defend the rax. Still, Empire was very strong — another Roshan gave them more tools for an effective push, and this time around, we had nothing to counter it. The first game goes to Empire .
Game 2 - Natus Vincere [1:1] Team Empire
NAVI.GG.BET
Crystallize
MagicaL-
Blizzy
-
Chuvash
SoNNeikO
Team Empire
dream'
Kodos
Maden
sayuw
KingR
The second game was a nice change. NAVI seized the initiative on the map from the very start. By 5 minutes, we already managed to score 6 kills, and the snowball started from there. NAVI moved around the map, picking up kills and towers while not letting the opponent do the same. Mid and bottom towers of Empire fell very early on, giving us increased map control. It didn't take us long to come for the high ground — at 17 minutes, Team Empire lost their bottom lane.
We rode the momentum further, using our massive advantage. NAVI shifted towards the midlane, and took down the barracks and the tower before retreating without casualties. We waited a little for the next Roshan, and went for the decisive push from the top lane. We destroyed a barrack and the T3 top tower, and had to go back. A fight near the Dire Secret shop spelled the end of the game — we go to the decider!
Game 3 - Natus Vincere [1:2] Team Empire
NAVI.GG.BET
Crystallize-
MagicaL
Blizzy-
Chuvash
SoNNeikO
Team Empire
dream'
Kodos
Maden
sayuw-
KingR
The final game of the series started similarly to the first one — a very active beginning from both teams. NAVI were trying very hard to deny Terrorblade any chance to farm, and for a while were quite successful, constantly ganking the opponent. There was lots of space created for our Morphling, who surely put it to good use — he was free-farming while NAVI pushed the top tower. More fight followed, and NAVI were mostly getting better trades. Still, the presence of Track on Empire offset their economic disadvantage, as they were getting some hefty gold amounts for their kills.
As NAVI took the Aegis at 20 minutes, we went for a smoke gank in the bottom lane; however, this fight saw the teams break pretty much even, with no clear winner. At 23 minutes, NAVI took down the last outer tower of Empire , and 3 minutes later — T3 in mid. Razor bought back, which allowed Empire to defend the barracks and get some return kills. We retreated, waited for another Aegis. A drawn-out teamfight saw NAVI fail to oush mid decisively yet again, and we lost the Aegis.
Unfortunately, NAVI weren't getting any objectives, while Empire amassed farm. Eventually, the net worth tilted in their favor, and we started losing fight. Empire were able to take the Roshan, slowing down the game even more. A very bad fight near bottom T3 saw our Queen of Pain die after the buyback — Mega Creeps. Soon after, the final fight unraveled — NAVI weren't able to stop Terrorblade, and lost game 3.
